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This 87,000-square-foot building blends together the Staley Library and student center into one central location. The hub for student activities as well as new technologies and academic success, the University Commons is home to resources such as the Center for Academic and Professional Performance, the Office of Campus Life, the Writing Center and many others. Students will also find dining options in the University Commons.

The University Commons is a reality with support from Doug Oberhelman (class of 1975) and his wife, Diane. The retired Caterpillar Foundation and Caterpillar Inc. Chairman and CEO and wife’s contributions helped to fund the Oberhelman Center for Leadership Performance; a new Center for International Education; and the Long-Vanderburg Scholars program which supports scholarships and programming for minority students.

In addition to an $8 million bond secured by the University and other generous donor gifts, three families made seven-figure contributions to the construction of University Commons: Millikin Trustee Debi Breeding Johnston (class of 1989) and her husband, Bob; the late Robert Moorehead (class of 1946) along with his wife, Charlotte Beesley Moorehead (class of 1947); and David J. Rathje (class of 1958) and his wife, Debbie.

The new University Commons was included as one of three building projects under Millikin University's $85 million "Transform MU" capital campaign. Millikin officially broke ground on the University Commons during a ceremony held on Nov. 6, 2015. With the exception of Shilling Hall, an original Millikin structure erected in 1902, the new University Commons is the largest building project in university history in terms of square footage.